InterMediate Plus - Winter Sea Kayaking Course's

This last weekends forecast was looking fairly similar to the previous ones.  Wet, windy and wild ... I sent an early email round with a number of options on and Rich was first back with a "its my birthday weekend and i'd rather celebrate it away, than in Stoke!" ok so lets see what we can do then ...  Jon and Douglas were just as keen ... Im not sure I was!!

Llyn Padarn it was and knowing all of the guys, really helped.  The centre of the lake was sporting so we worked on the edges, to begin with and eased into down wind runs, with high angled stern rudders and moving towards on side edged ones.

Jon below getting a feel for the kayak ...   

Birthday boy getting stuck in ....  It really was that wet!!

A moment of clarity and great light, looking up the lake before the next front arrived ...

Between down winds runs, the main emphasis was trimming the kayak, to maximise the effect of the environment.  Into wind, trim forward and use only forward strokes to keep on track, while if needing to turn, either use reverse strokes (to lock the stern, so the bow gets blown around) or accelerate across the wind and go for an inside turn, pausing for the bow again to be blown down wind.

Once down wind and wanting to turn up wind - accelerate, go to outside edge, body forward to sink the bow/lock it, and enable the stern to be free to follow.  It was great having good conditions that we could move in and out of, and people could really feel when they were trimming effectively.

Some contact tows, with the person down wind up wind and on the bow and stern were also played with and some tow line work.  Emphasis was if somethings not working, smoothly, then adjust/change and being quick with the line/rope.

After a super evening meal at Dylan's the forecast for Sunday was much better and a down wind run from the Mermaids Inn to Menai Bridge looked perfect ..  Jon below and looking back to were we've been blown from ...

As we progressed along the Straits the conditions settled ...

We briefly gathered at the end and reflected back on the weekend.  Feedback really says it all ...

Thanks for another cracking weekend despite the weather - lots to ponder and digest  and from another person ...

Just wanted to say thanks to Roger for organising a weekend in challenging conditions that delivered so much and thanks to Judith for the top tips ...

Happy days ... thanks to Rich for being so positive at the start and having a birthday, for helping with the shuttle and for a great Sat evening.  Thanks also to Judith for her support.

Lets hope this bonkers weather or as I heard some one else say 'wonky weather' clears on out soon ...

Roger

PS: have you got the BCU 3 star sea and want to progress further?  The next Intermediate Plus is on the 8/9th March and currently 3 places are available .. email me at info@coastalspirit.com for further details


sea kayaking north wales
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winter sea kayaking courses

Day 40 Circumnavigation of Ireland

It took just over 3 hours to cross the bay, on a silky sea, with no wind. Shearwaters were out in big numbers, zooming about and rafted in big groups bobbing about. We could even see the Isle of Man this morning. 

We pulled up on to the beach and Justine called Susanna on her mobile. Her and Willy were on the way.

They both had sorted out a place for us to leave our sea kayaks, on the harbour front. And then we whisked off too their house for welcome showers and coffee. Currently sat in a sunny lounge, enjoying a rest. Mmmmmm, lunch is on the way...

Crossing to Annalong with the Morne Mountains in the background



Sonja
www.coastalspirit.com

Day 31 Ireland Circumnavigation

A wet and windy start, F4 gusting F6.  I'd forgotten what it was like clearing away a wet tent! The next 10K of coastline was truly stunning, major tunnels, arches and rock formations. One area is called "enchanted rocks" and even in the wind and rain it was magic. We hopped across Dawros Head and had lunch on a small island. The wind had paused and was due to go West which would be good! We finally made it to Gola Island, 32nm. On our arrival a couple waved to us from a house. We later found out they were on holiday and they offered us showers and mugs of tea! We cooked our dinners and then joined Sue and Aiden for more tea! They very kindly also offered us beds for the night! Big thanks to them both for their hospitality. North coast tomorrow and Bloody Foreland Head.

 A good day to do the washing..

 Camp on the 10th June

Friday nights camp

Our hosts Sue and Aiden

Sonja

www.coastalspirit.com

1st June, Day 21 Ireland Circumnavigation and Happy Birthday to me!

It was a struggle getting out of my sleeping bag this morning and there was a cold wind funnelling up our valley. The entrance to our cove had surf blocking the exit and the wind was stronger than yesterday. 2-3 metres of swell rolled through as we passed another arch or cave from a distance. We landed on Mutton Island for a break unsure if we would get another. We noticed two people on the beach and then a kayak. It was Jane and Andy Morton who are paddling around the UK. They are camping on the island and invited us over for a brew. After lunch and a good lemon cake from Justine and Barry we talked through our options. With it also being a Bank Holiday places were likely to be busy plus the cliffs of Moher could be very exciting! We stayed!

Sonja
www.coastalspirit.com

Around Ireland 2013 Day 1 on the water at last!

After a late night, showers and a good breakfast of porridge, toast and honey and eggs (Thanks Sonja, Ireland!) kit was loaded into the deep blue sea kayaking van and we drove to pick up our kayaks and pack them a short distance away. Packing went smoothly and just at the right time a team of paddlers arrived to help us carry them to the waters edge! It was a super send off and the guys paddled with us for 10km. We crossed to Dalkey Island and crossed the bay into a F4 headwind. A welcome headland provided shelter from the wind and a super lunch stop in a small rocky cove. Thanks to Sonja, Wales! for the surprise yummy smoked cheese! Back on the water and Justine's GPS showed 5knots which was much better than the previous 2.7 knots! We realised at this point that we could make it round the point and our first significant lighthouse, here we reached 6knots!! Now all keen for a camp we landed just before Ardmore Point. With boats to move and arrival at low water Barry was on the case and soon had the kayak trolley set up! 45km or so in the bag today and our position will help us tomorrow morning, which is looking like the wind will be stronger and the weather wet!!!


Sonja WALES
www.coastalspirit.com

Blue sky sea kayaking ....

This was the advanced sea kayaking weekend, called Perform which focus on the skills, techniques and development towards the 4 star sea kayak leader.

Zoe, Gary, Andy and Pat were on this weekend and despite some snow all made it to Anglesey, in good time.  

Coffees, weather forecast, planning and discussions on venues was done in pairs, with a couple of people turning up with a plan.  The North coast starting at Porth Eilian and towards Bull Bay, and then either on to the Brick works or back, eddy hoping as we went was the jointly agreed plan.

Now we couldn't just get on and not look at the Point Lynas race ... that would be rude .... so we paddled round the headland and in the blue sky, the race looked great.    So we decided to work this area for a while ...

Zoe setting off for a run down the race ...

Pat and the first time he had used a Greenland stick in rough conditions ....

Andy Taking a run down ...

Zoe in some super sun shine and the tower of Ynis Dulas, can just be seen ...

A few tasks were set in the buddy teams  ... and then some surfing ...

We decided to head up the race and look for a place to land.  A rocky landing provided the answer and a break for lunch

The clouds had been forming, with the blue sky disappearing and the wind strengthening.  So we eddy hoped and with short navigation legs worked or way towards Dulas bay and into wind.  It was then suggested to paddle out to Ynis Dulas, which looked clearly in the wind.

The wind was funnelling right out of Dulas Bay, providing exciting conditions .... and focusing attention.  Round the back of the island we took briefly some shelter, before heading back across the sound and on towards Point Lynas ...

The last push from the headland back into the bay was particularly  strong with winds at F5 and occasional gust of F6.  It had been a super day with some great conditions and Winter sunshine!


Sunday - forecast F6-8 SW.

After a reflection on the previous day, we headed to the Straits to work on contact tows - push/pull and tandem rafted tows ... and to gain some shelter!!

The team above, from left to right - Andy, Zoe, Pat and Gary.

After a short break for some food we got back on a took a down wind run towards the Gazelle Inn, using the wind against tide ...

And then turned to paddle back into wind ....

A welcomed sunny break ....

With some time on our hands a run into the the Swelies, ferry glides, eddy turns and positioning, finished a super Winters weekend sea kayaking.

Roger

roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com

sea kayak courses
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sea kayaking north wales

Stacks of Snow ..

Four people had managed to make it to Anglesey for the first sea kayaking weekend of 2013, with Coastal Spirit.  That was Keith, Jon, Richard and Douglas. This was the Xplore course, aimed at Intermediate paddlers.

We started with coffees and a couple of bacon sandwiches, while in pairs various options were pondered.  The course has a number of aims, two being to assist a paddler towards the 3 star award or developing 3 star skills and becoming an independent paddler.  Rhoscolyn was decided upon due to various options, swell or current, but concern on road access re snow was high!! So Treardur Bay to Rhoscolyn and back made sense ...

 

As we left Menai Bridge it soon became clear that Anglesey, had a lot of snow .... 

And Trearddur Bay was a good option ....

Keith below, and the beginning of a super bright, fresh day ...

Jon and Douglas going back over a pull, contact tow as we experimented ... it was just a super back drop and I hadn't really seen Anglesey quite like it .. it was beautiful ...

There was a reasonable swell, so we kept out from the edges ....

At Rhoscolyn, (the small bay before), time for some lunch, before heading out to the islands and the beacon ...

As we headed back, the sun came out .... and we went over single in line, rafted, tandem and assisted rafted ... before landing and heading back to Menai Bridge ..

Paddling the Stacks had been mentioned on Saturday, based on the weather holding, hence conditions improving.  We were also one day before being spot on neaps, so much gentler flow .... with the planning done either the night before or earlier on that morning as soon as we met we were off.   heading for Soldiers Point, keen to see if we could get Jon's car parked up ... and we could. All in the van we headed off to Porth Dafach and this is were the fun began ....

... close to the brow of the hill, on the main road, i parked up, put the handbrake on, switched the engine off ... Jon got out and .... immediately said the van is sliding back!! I started the engine but couldn't go forward only backwards and not straight!  I just couldn't get purchase on the ice ... we took the trailer off and chipped at the ice close to the wheels and all jumped in ... we were soon at the top, on a flatter section.  It was now time to see if we could push the trailer up the hill.  We removed 5 kayaks and between us we soon had it back on the van.

It looked super calm and after a few carries we were off and heading for Pen rhyn mawr ...

Rich above coming through the main race, which was 1 hour before main flow and fairly gentle ....

Keith above, as we head off towards South Stack ....

Id never seen South stack with some snow, looked great .... and super sunny ...

Gogarth Bay, looked even better .... lunch was Baltic, and only as long as for Rich to finish his pot noodle ...mmmm, it did look good ;)

A couple of caves and Wen Zawn, before heading into wind and the final section to Soldiers Point .... with the Irish Ferry on the way out.

Big thanks to Jon for the use of his car in the shuttle and what a super weekends Winter paddling ...

Roger

roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com

intermediate sea kayaking
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winter sea kayaking courses

Bespoke - winter ... sunny sea kayaking ..and so many seals!!

Richard was back and this time for a days private bespoke sea kayaking course, before Zoe joined him on the Friday. Thursday morning arrived bright and sunny and after a coffee and a discussion, the plan was to go to Puffin Island. Allot of the birds have flown their nest, this time of the year but with the resident population of grey seals, its all ways a memorable place. Puffin Island is on the SE corner of Anglesey, North Wales and has a 1k channel which can reach 4/5 knots at peak and on a spring tide.

Day 1

Getting on 2/3k along the Menai Straits, which gives more of a journey as you approach the island and a gentle introduction.

On arrival it was great to see a large number (30 or so seals) on the main beach enjoying the sunshine. We kept a distance, no wanting to startle them ... and few soon slowly joined us to great the new comers!!

Around the far end there was another large group enjoy more sunshine and this time a couple came really close ... it was one of my best seal encounters ... it was almost as if they were waiting to play and meet people, bored with the lazing around in the sunshine. This one above, just hung around for ages.

Not that id recognise here but theres one called Lucy, who tends to be really inquisitive, and tried on a few occasions to get on the back of my kayak ... i think if it had been plastic there may have been more grip, so she just kept sliding off!

We went into one of the caves and she was soon with us ...

Back at the sound, the current had picked up, we crossed to the main land and landed for a break and some lunch, before coming back into the channel to work on rough water skills

Penmon Point light house which has a regular clanging bell, which on a really grey day makes it all the more an intense experience!!

We finished off the day moving up against now a gentler flow working our way back to the van, totally satisfied and feeling the benefits of some Winter sunshine!!

Day 2
Into Treadour Bay on the west coast of Anglesey and today was focused on developing 3 star skills, in swell and wind ...

which we had and then some rain, although briefly. We also worked on some incident management scenarios and towing and rock hoping (close quartering - moving in and out of rocks ... in-fact no physical jumping from rock to rock!!)

The weather then took a lovely turn for the best with a brief sunny and bright sky moment and we were able to soak this up for a moment, as the day came to an end.

A super few days with varied conditions, with both Richard and Zoe, moving on and paddling in faster and bigger water and looking more comfortable.

www.coastalspirit.com

roger chandler

bespoke winter sea kayaking courses